Chen helps Orioles defeat Tampa 4-2

SWEEP STOPPED:：The Orioles’ third win in nine games denied the Rays a series sweep, putting the Florida team one game adrift of Boston in the race for the AL East lead

AP, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

Fri, Aug 23, 2013 - Page 20

MAJOR LEAGUES

Chris Davis hit his major league leading 46th home run and Adam Jones also homered, as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 on Wednesday night to avoid a three-game sweep.

Davis connected against Jeremy Hellickson (10-7) leading off the fifth inning. The drive landed on Eutaw Street beyond the wall in right field to give the Orioles a 4-2 lead.

Taiwanese pitcher Chen Wei-yin (7-6) gave up two runs and six hits in seven innings to help Baltimore win for only the third time in nine games. The left-hander was backed by three double plays, two of which he started.

Darren O’Day worked a perfect eighth and gave up a leadoff single to Wil Myers in the ninth before Brian Matusz walked pinch-hitter James Loney.

Tommy Hunter then got two straight outs and with runners on the corners, Kelly Johnson was thrown out trying to steal second. It was Hunter’s fourth save.

Baltimore’s usual closer, Jim Johnson, did not get up in the bullpen after he blew three consecutive save opportunities and surrendering three hits in a non-save situation on Tuesday.

Jason Bourgeois and Sean Rodriguez hit solo homers for the Rays, whose second loss in eight games left them a game behind first-placed Boston in the American League East Division.

Hellickson allowed four runs and seven hits in 4-1/3 innings. The right-hander is 0-4 with an 8.06 ERA in five starts since July 26.

The Orioles used a two-run first inning to take their first lead in the series. After Nate McLouth led off with a single to snap a 0-for-17 skid, Manny Machado singled and Davis walked to load the bases.

Jones drove in a run with a fielder’s choice grounder and Matt Wieters hit a sacrifice fly after a double steal.

Bourgeois hit a solo shot in second for his third career homer and first since 2011.

In the bottom half, the Orioles loaded the bases with two outs for Davis, who hit a routine fly to left.

Jones made it 3-1 in the third with his 26th home run, a drive to dead center that traveled an estimated 136m. Rodriguez answered in the fourth with his third homer.